HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.25 Road AssessmentArticle 7-107
Access and Roadways
Assessment
Ursa Operating Company
Battlement Mesa Land
Investments
Major Impact Review Application
Battlement Mesa PUD Phase I
BMC D
OAProject No. 014-1829
ACCESS ROAD ASSESSMENT
GSGM
www.sgm-inc.com
URSA Battlement Mesa PUD Phase I, BMC D Special Use Permit
The Access Road that is intended to serve BMC D for URSA Operating Company within the
Battlement Mesa PUD begins where it turns off of County Road 307 (River Bluff Road) in the
NW 1/4 of Section 18, Township 7 South, Range 95 West of the 6th P.M. and terminates at the
URSA Well BMC D. This access road is approximately 460 feet from CR 307 to the URSA Well
BMC D.
Statement of Adequacy
This access road is typical of roads providing access to natural gas production facilities in
Garfield County. The roadway is adequate for the intended use.
Geometry of Road
The following table compares this access road to the Garfield County Roadway Standards
found in Table 7-107 of the Land Use and Development Code for Semi Primitive Roadways and
Driveways.
GLENWOOD SPRINGS 118 West Sixth St, Suite 200 I Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 1970.945.1004
Table 7-107: Roadway Standards
Design Standards
Design Capacity (ADT)
Semi Primitive
21-100
IURSA BMC D Access Road
25 Vehicles per Day
Minimum ROW Width (Feet)
40 feet
> 40 feet
Lane Width (Feet)
Two Lanes (8 feet each)
Two Lanes (10.5 feet each)
Shoulder Width (Feet)
2 feet
2 feet
Ditch Width (Feet)
4 feet
5 feet
Cross Slope
3% for Gravel
2% for Gravel
Shoulder Slope
5%
2% (continuance of lane)
Design Speed
n/a
n/a
Minimum Radius (Feet)
50 feet
100 feet
Maximum % Grade
12%
10%
Surface
Gravel
8" of Class 6 Road Base (Gravel)
GLENWOOD SPRINGS 118 West Sixth St, Suite 200 I Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 1970.945.1004
Battlement Mesa PUD, Phase I, BMC D Special Use Permit
Ursa Operating Company, LLC
It is noted when comparing the proposed access road construction with that of the Semi Privitive
standards, the access road for Ursa BMC D is being constructed at a standard that generally
exceeds the County's standard with the exception of the cross slope being 2% versus 3%. This
variance from the standard is justified by making sure that adequate drainage is provided for the
roadway to not allow ponding in the road surface. Also, as the roadway needs to tie to both the
well pad and an existing roadway, varied cross slopes to transition to the existing (and
proposed) grading at those locations is necessary. This standard has proven to be a successful
standard for access to Ursa Operating Company on all of its facilities throughout Garfield
County. Ursa has proven its ability to safely perform all operations from drilling to production
and to properly maintain its roadways constructed to this standard.
Safety/Structural Issues
As access to the pad is gained from CR 307 (River Bluff Road), focus has been given to
determining adequate sight distance and structural issues related to the intersection with CR
307. For sight distance, the sight distance from the access road to the east has revealed that
the entire 460' of roadway to the intersection with Battlement Parkway to be clear of
obstructions. Likewise, at least 500 feet of sight distance exists to the west towards the
Battlement Mesa Water and Wastewater District Facilities. For a 35 mph speed on River Bluff
Road, the minimum stopping sight distance would be 275 feet thus the sight distance available
exceeds the minimum. For the access road to the pad itself, the entire roadway is visible to
traffic flows on the access road so sight distance is not an issue.
From a structural standpoint, the access road for the pad is to be constructed of 8" of class 6
aggregate base course over 18" of scarified and recompacted native soil subgrade. With the
given construction, and in-sitsu soil conditions consisting of an R value of at least 15, the road
section will adequately support the 20 year projected EASL's from production traffic. For the
existing roadway (River Bluff Road), we have found the roadway in an aged, but fair condition.
Given the road bond that Ursa has in place with the County Road and Bridge department, any
funding necessary to repair damages directly resulting from Ursa's activities are already in
place.
Maintenance
Maintenance for the access road to the pad is to be performed by Ursa contractors sufficiently
tooled to adequately maintain not only access roadways, but the pad facilities as well.
Anticipated maintenance is snow plowing, borrow ditch grading, stormwater BMP maintenance,
weed/vegetation control (mowing and spraying), re -surfacing and recompaction. From well pad
construction through completion operations, necessary personnel and equipment will be on site
or on nearby facilities to perform the needed maintenance. Through production, Ursa
production personnel will monitor maintenance needs and direct the Ursa contractors to perform
such on an as needed basis.
Access Road Assessment Page 2
Battlement Mesa PUD, Phase I, BMC D Special Use Permit
Ursa Operating Company, LLC
Travel Demand
Average Daily Traffic (ADT) is expected to be equal to or less than 25 trips per day (in the worst
case) for drilling operations as shown in the following table prepared by Olsson Associates.
Stages of Development
Duration
Average
Trips/Day
Max
Trips/Day
Total
Trips/Phase
Light Truck
Heavy
Truck
Drill Rig
Heavy
Equipment
Construction of the Drill Pad
requiring little excavation
21 days/ 1 pad
14
60
290
84
202
4
Construction of the Drill Pad
requiring significant
excavation and material
removal
21 days! 1 pad
14
90
380
84
292
4
Drilling Operations
5 days/ 1 well
25
42
125
75
47
1
2
Completion Operations
10 days/ 1 well
16
36
160
80
80
Production
20 years, 1 pad
2
2
29200
14:600
14,600
Reclamation
5 days/ 1 pad
10
25
50
34
12
4
Pipeline Construction
60 days/1 mile
31
46
1844
1200
540
120
This roadway is being assessed according to the standards for a Semi Primitive Driveway.
Traffic associated with the additional stages of development includes light and heavy trucks,
heavy equipment and a drill rig. As is noted in the table, the worst stage of development, from a
traffic demand standpoint is that of the drilling operation stage. In this stage, there is anticipated
an ADT of Light Trucks to be 15 light trucks, 9 heavy trucks and 1 drill rig.
Other Evidence of Compliance
Section 7-107.A Access to Public Right -of -Way
Legal access to the site is gained, as previously noted, from CR 307, River Bluff Road.
Section 7-107.B Safe Access
Access to the site is consistent with other similar uses.
Section 7-107.0 Adequate Capacity
Traffic congestion is not anticipated as a result of the proposed Ursa BMC D oil and gas
development activities.
Section 7-107.D Road Dedications
The access road is a private road. No rights-of-way will be dedicated to the public.
Section 7-107.E Impacts Mitigated
Based on the expected trip generation rates discussed in the Basic Traffic Study, the increase in
average daily traffic is not expected to increase on County Roads such that a modification of the
existing access permit would be required. The total traffic volumes will remain very low and are
anticipated to be accommodated by the existing roadway. Additionally, the majority of existing
traffic on this road is associated with the natural gas industry and/or the maintenance personnel
for the Battlement Mesa Water and Wastewater District facilities.
Access Road Assessment Page 3
Battlement Mesa PUD, Phase I, BMC D Special Use Permit
Ursa Operating Company, LLC
Conclusions
The Ursa BMC D Access Road is proposed to be constructed to a standard that exceeds those
of a Semi Primitive Driveway standard noted in the County's Design Standards in Table 7-107
of the Land Use Code. As such, the road is anticipated to function adequately as proposed and
is typical of existing roads providing access to natural gas production in Garfield County.
Jefferey S. Simonson, PE
Principal, SGM-Inc.
Access Road Assessment Page 4